Stoppering and opening devices for fluid containers



A. MATHISEN July 12, 1955 STOPPERING AND OPENING DEVICES FOR FLUID CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 23, 1951 0 g 1 H I July 12, 1955 A. MATHISEN 2,713,831

STOPPERING AND OPENING DEVICES FOR FLUID CONTAINERS Filed May 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. MATHlSEN July 12, 1955 STOPPERING AND OPENING DEVICES FOR FLUID CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 25, 1951 n u o a u u a 0 Q a a a u.

MAM

A. MATHISEN July 12, 1955 STOPPERING AND OPENING DEVICES FOR FLUID, CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 23 1951 I? ll 25 Claims. (iii. 220-47) This invention relates to improvements in stoppering and opening devices for fluid containers and more particularly to frangible stoppering and opening devices for fire extinguisher fluid containers and the like.

Frangible diaphragm or disc type of stoppering and opening devices are known, and in one particular form a stem integral with a head portion of a fluid container is arranged to be severed by an explosive charge to efiect discharge of fire extinguishing liquid or other fluids from the container.

In this construction the explosive charge is enclosed in a circular groove around the stem and is confined by a nut secured upon the stem. The blown out stoppering devi e forms an obstruction to the discharge of the fluid which is objection when extremely rapid discharge is required under high pressure and through short outlet pipes or ducts.

In accordance with the present invention a stoppering and opening device for fluid containers comprises a frangible diaphragm extending across the discharge outlet from the container and an explosive charge associated therewith the arrangement being such that when the explosive charge is exploded, the force of the explosion acts against the diaphragm and against the pressure of the fluid in the container, and severs the diaphragm.

in the preferred form the explosive charge is of the kind known as detonators, the explosive effect of which is of extreme rapidity and of great force but of short range.

In one construction the container may be in the form of a metal bottle capable of withstanding a high internal pressure, the bottle outlet or neck being of about one to two or more inches internal diameter. A metal cap device may be fitted over said bottle neck in the centre of which a detonator is fitted in a suitably shaped holder. The detonator explosive charge is in the end of the metal casing of the detonator, said end projecting into a hood or hollow projection which proiects into the fluid or liquid space in the bottle.

The metal cap device is recessed at the rim so that the metal thickness is somewhat in excess of the thickness necessary to resist safely the pressure in the bottle so that on firing the detonator the extremely rapid and localised explosion will sever the recessed rim permitting the centre of the cap to be blown back to etiect discharge of the bottle content at the full bore of the bottle neck.

1 lternatively, however, the explosive charge may be gunpowder or gun cotton or similar substance a given quantity of which explodes with less rapidity and force than in the case of detonators, but which has a greater explosive range than detonator In this alternative construction the charge is confined in a plug which is capable of being screwed or otherwise secured to the frangible disc or diaphragm, the explosive effect being applied in the container space as in the case of the detonators. in the case that gunpowder is used the space in which the explosion takes place must be dry, and a cap or like device is fitted over the end of the plug,

, anasst Fatented duly 12, 1955 said cap being connected to the disc by a metal bellows or similar device which permits of lifting the cap Without liquid coming into contact with the burning gunpowder which would quench the powder. On the other hand detonators are not quenched when exploded in liquid.

As the iquid pressure is exerted on the cap the disc will blow back and the parts slide back to open the outlet full bore as in the above described construction.

Various additional features of novelty will appear from the following description with reference to the accompany drawings, which show embodiments of the invention by way of example and in which:

Figure 1 shows a fire extinguisher liquid container head in section;

Figure la shows a detonator mounted in a holder as a detached unit;

Figure 1b shows a detached frangible cap device which forms part of the container head;

Fi ure 1c shows the frangible portion of the cap after explosion of the detonator;

Figure 2 is an end view of the container head shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a modified construction;

Figure 4 shows a container having an enlarged outlet neck as compared with Figure 1, said neck being fitted with two discharge heads;

Figure 5 shows a slight modification of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a still further modification of the construction shown in Figure 1,

Figure 7 shows an alternative construction to that of Figure l in which a difierent type of frangible diaphragm is employed, and

Figure 8 shows a modified construction in which gunpowder or like explosive is used.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawing numeral 2 denotes a fluid container which may be of bottle shape or of any other configuration, a neck or outlet portion denoted 3 being formed therein. The neck portion 3 is provided with a screw thread 4 to which a container stoppering device of cap shape, denoted 5, is secured by screwing on to thread 4.

The stoppering device or cap 5 is machined internally to form a groove ti into which the valve face seating 7, on the rim of neck portion 3 fits, to compress a soft metal or like sealing washer 8. Cap 5 may be provided with spanner lugs or dogs 55! whereby cap 5 can be tightly secured to neck 3, to form a fluid tight seal at washer 8, additional sealing being provided by solder tinning the thread 4 and the engaging thread on cap 5 or by red leading this thread or otherwise sealing the threads in fluid tight manner.

Cap 5 is further machined internally to form a hood or hollow projection 5b which forms an explosive substance containing diaphragm portion. A recess 50, the outer diameter of which is substantially of the same dimensions as the internal diameter of the bottle neck 3 being also formed as shown so that hood 5!) projects into the fluid space in the container.

Stoppering device or cap 5 is further machined externally to form a conical boss 5a which at its base is integral with the above described portions of cap 5, the base being machined at 52 to form a frangible diaphragm having a reduced section rim 5) which may be of a thickness from .020 inch up to 0.060 inch, the diameter being substantially the same as that of bottle neck 3.

The explosive charge which severs the diaphragm at rim 5] is shown at 9 being contained in a solid drawn thin metal cartridge case 10 this charge being ignited electrically over a pair of ignition wires 11 connected to a standard known type of electric plug-in-socket 12,

3 this device 9, 10 and 11 constituting what is known as a detonator.

The explosive charge 9 is in the end of the cartridge case 10 housed within the hood b and about two thirds of this is above the base of recess Sc the other third being below this base.

The detonator is fitted in a holder 13 to which connector 12 is secured and as shown in Figure la the holder and detonator is detachable from cap portion 541' by screwing or otherwise and when fitted with a protective cap 13a may be stored separately from the container, being only inserted when the container is mounted for use, for example upon an aircraft.

Cap 5 is screw threaded externally and a junction box or fitting device 14 is screwed thereto, this being provided with a threaded boss 14a to which fluid distributing or discharge piping may be connected.

Fitting 14 is provided with a boss 14b internally machined to take a resilient washer 15. Container 2 may be provided with a filling and charging plug 16 of known kind through which the fire extinguishing or other fluid is filled, generally under gas pressure.

Normally, for use, the container 2 is mounted head downwards as shown in Figure 1 so that the liquid under gas pressure rests on cap portion 511 and 50.

When it is desired to discharge the container, detonator 10 is ignited over electric leads 11 causing explosion of substance 9. The substance explodes with extreme rapidity and great force, but the range of reaction is short for detonators of the size known as No. 3.

The range of reaction is probably of the size of a golf ball and owing to the position of the substance 9 a crater is formed in recess 50, as shown on 5g in Figure 1c, the part 5d including holder 13 and connector 12, being blown backwards to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, cap 5 being severed at rim 51 thereby providing a full bore discharge orifice for bottle neck 3 through boss 14a.

Resilient ring 15 cushions the blow caused by part 5d landing on boss 14b to avoid risk of fracture, the fitting 1' 14 therefor constituting an abutment for the boss 5d and holder 13 when the detonator is fired.

Owing to the rapidity of explosion of substance 9 liquid resting upon parts 5!) and 5c resists displacement thereby ensuring severance of cap 5 at rims 5;. In actual practice, however, cap 5 severs at rim 5f even if the cap is detached when fired as shown in Figure 1b.

Hood 512 and the metal torn out of part 5d at crater 5g disintegrates into fine particles which may be collected by a strainer (described hereafter in connection with Figure 6) but normally this is not necessary unless the piping from boss 14a discharges into aero engines or power plants.

To prevent constriction in junction box 14 this is shaped as shown in Figure 2 to afford a full bore orifice past part 5d in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

In some types of fire extinguishers a straight through discharge of liquid is required and this may be achieved as shown in Figure 3. In this container neck 3 has fitting 16 secured thereto by means of a soldered thread, said fitting having a straight bore or duct 17 terminating in pipe union fitting threads at 18, an angular boss 16a being formed therein, this being machined internally to provide a seating extending angularly across duct 17 for a frangible sealing disc or diaphragm 19 which comprises a flange 19a soldered to said seating and having a thin material rim 1% formed therein which is severed when detonator 20 is ignited, causing the centre portion of diaphragm 19 to be blown back to the position shown in dotted lines, thereby forming a substantially straight through outlet duct.

Detonator 20 is mounted in holder 21 and a flanged disc 16b closes the end of boss 16a and forms an abutill ment from the severed part of diaphragm 19 the construction being otherwise similar to Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the container shown in Figure 1. In Figure 4 the container neck 22 is of twice the sectional area of that of container neck 3 and is provided with a Y-shaped fitting 23 which has an inlet boss 24 secured by a soldered screw thread to neck 22 and a sealing ring 25 if desired, two outlet bosses 26 and 27 being provided thereon as shown each being fitted with a frangible stoppering device 5 and other parts identical to those of Figure 1, except that the junction box fitting 28 is shaped as shown to obtain liquid outlet piping and fittings substantially at right angles to the vertical centre line of container neck 22. The container in practice is vertically mounted and not horizontal as shown in Figure 4.

By-this means selective discharge from either one of the two outlets can be obtained, or simultaneous discharge from both outlets. More than two outlets may be provided in this manner by suitably redesigning the container neck and the fitting 23.

Referring to Figure 5 the construction is similar to Figure 1 except that boss 5d is enlarged and bored out to take a charging plug 16a of known construction but machined to take detonator 10 and holder 13, a sealing washer 1617 being clamped between parts 16a and 5d upon preformed sealing surfaces so that a liquid tight seal can be made.

Boss 141; is slightly modified to permit plug 16a to move into it so that the severed diaphragm portion will occupy in the construction shown in Figure 5 the same position as in Figure 1.

By this means charging plug 16 on the bottle neck (Fig. l) is not necessary in the construction shown in Fig. 5, filling and gassing being efiected through boss 50', the rim 5] being of sufiicient strength to withstand the securing of plug 16a.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 6, the bottle neck 3 is fitted with a cup shaped device 55 having a disc portion 56 provided with circular and radial V-shaped grooves 57, a hood 58 being produced either by machining or soldering, into which hood the end of detonator 10 projects.

Detonator 10 is mounted in a holder 59 secured by screwing or otherwise in junction box device 60, a known form of electrical connector 61 being secured thereto.

Upon ignition of detonator 10 the diaphragm 56 is shattered into a number of pieces, these being trapped by a strainer device 62 secured by a rim 60a formed in the base of fitting 6 the holder 59 in this case remaining in position.

Figure 7 shows a large bore container 70 having a neck 71 of about three to five inches diameter. To this a flanged neck fitting 72 is secured and soldered or brazed, this being provided with a known form of charging plug 73.

A plastic material or cast metal diaphragm 74 provided with strengthening ribs 74a and a circular rim or flange 74b is clamped between fitting 72 and an outlet duct or iunction box fitting 75 by means of a compression ring 74c, the diaphragm also being made so as to retain detonator 10 in the position shown, so that upon ignition diaphragm 74 will shatter into fragments permitting discharge of the container contents.

Diaphragm 74 is shown of hemispherical shape, this shape providing a fragile construction, Whilst still being capable of resisting the high hydraulic pressure of the container contents.

Detonator 10 is connected by leads 11 to an electrical plug-in-socket 76 to which an ignition current supply source may be connected.

The container may be of considerable capacity and fitting 75 is shown suitable for mounting on a wall or casing 77 extending into a fire risk zone such as a ships hold or petrol tank, or into an inflammable gas duct 78, a thin plate 79 being secured in the end of fitting 75 to prevent entry of substances from duct '78 into fitting 75, which plate is blown out upon discharge of the container.

To impart a twist to the liquid stream or jet from container "7d, vanes 8-8 may be provided in the fitting 75, these vanes being disposed at an angle similarly to impellor blades, the twist imparted to the high velocity liquid stream or jet causing this to spread out and form mist or fog of large volume.

Referring now to Figure 8, the container neck has a fran ible diaphragm 31 soldered thereto, a thin metal rim 31a being formed therein as shown. The diaphragm 3.1 is formed with a centre boss 31!) which is bored through and has a holder device 32 screwed into the bore, said device 32 being fitted with an insulating sleeve 33 into which is fitted an insulating block 3-: split into halves to support and embrace electric fuse Wire leads 35 and the ends of connector pins 35a, said block and sleeve forming an enclosure for explosive substance 36 retained in said enclosure by disc 37. Substance 36 may be gunpowder or gun cotton or similar substance, but its explosive efiect is not so rapid as that of detonators and for this reason flanged cap 38 is placed over the end of holder 32, and has one end convolution of a metal bellows device 39 soldered thereto, the other end convolution being soldered to a rim 31c of diaphragm 31.

Cap 38 has a rim 38a resting within rim 310, thus forming an explosion chamber for substance 36 projecting into the container fluid space.

When substance 36 is ignited by fuse wires connected to leads 35 the slow acting explosion will lift the cap 38 against the liquid pressure, the resulting reaction causing severance of rim 33a whereby diaphragm part 311), holder 32, cap 38 and associated parts slide back into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, this permitting discharge of the container through junction box device 49 which is screwed on to bottle neck 30 and has a pipe union boss a provided thereon. A sealing ring 41 revents loss of liquid round holder 32 in boss 49b of device 48, this constituting an abutment for part 31b and holder 32.

Gunpowder and similar substance will be quenched if exploded into liquid and the bellows device 39 permits displacement of cap 38 without allowing the explosive flame to contact the quenching liquid.

Substance 9 in detonators, on the other hand, is not quenched by liquids when ignited and the greatly simplified construction therefore becomes possible when using detonators.

The construction shown in Figure 8 is, however, a practical alternative if detonators cannot be used for any reason, but diaphragm rim 31a requires careful machining as its strength must not greatly exceed that necessary to resist safely the pressure of the liquid in the container. Diaphragms fitted with detonators, on the other hand, may have a substantial margin of safety as the force available will ensure severance with any reasonable design.

What I claim is:

l. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid con tainer provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a cover member extending substantially across such discharge outlet, said cover member having an outer portion and an inner portion coaxially disposed relative to said outer portion and hermetically connected to said outer portion by a frangible portion, aid inner portion having a recess the base of which is formed by a frangible portion normally isolating said recess from the fluid bearing against the cover member, said last-mentioned frangible portion projecting into such fluid, and an explosive charge positioned within said recess and adjacent to said last-mentioned frangible portion so as to produce upon ignition an explosive force which acts against the fluid and against said inner portion to sever said first-mentioned frangible portion.

2. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 5 1 for a container provided with a plurality of discharge outlets, wherein a cover member is provided to extend respectively across each outlet and an explosive charge is positioned within the recessed inner portion of each cover member to sever upon ignition the frangible portion connecting the inner and outer portions thereof.

3. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 1 wherein said explosive charge is a detonator, said inner portion including a boss having said recess disposed centrally therein, a holder for said detonator, and a plug fitted within said recess and adapted to position said detonator and holder with respect to said boss.

4. A stoppering and opening device for fiuid containers according to claim 1 in which the explosive charge is a detonator.

5. A stoppering and opening device for fluid containers according to claim 1 in which said explosive charge corn.- prises gun powder.

6. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 1 further comprising a tubular fitting having a socketed end adapted to be connected to said discharge outlet and a seating for said iaphragm arranged angularly in said fitting.

7. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 1 further comprising a tubular fitting having a socketed end adapted to be connected to said discharge outlet, a seating for said cover member arrang d angularly in said fitting, and a tubular boss extending angularly from said tubular fitting, said seating being formed partly in the wall of said tubular fitting and partly in said tubular boss, the arrangement being such that after it has been severed said inner portion drops into said tubular boss, leaving an unrestricted discharge passage in said tubular fitting.

8. A stoppering and opening device for fiuid containers according to claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises a cup-shaped fitting formed at its inner portion with an integral disc having machined therein circular and radial grooves of V-shape in cross-section to separate a diaphragm part of the disc from a rim portion thereof, the diameter or" said circular groove being substantially equal to that of said discharge outlet.

9. A stoppering and opening device for fluid containers according to claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises a cup-shaped fitting formed at its inner portion with an integral disc having machined therein a circular groove of t -shape in cross-section, the diameter of said groove being substantially equal to that of said discharge outlet, said last-mentioned frangible portion being formed centrally as a head in said disc and projecting into said discharge outlet.

10. A stoppering and opening device for fluid containers according to claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises a cup-shaped fitting formed at its inner portion with an integral disc having machined therein a circular groove of V-shape in cross-section to separate a diaphragm part of the disc from a rim portion thereof, the diameter of said groove being substantially equal to that of said discharge outlet, said last-rnentioned frangible portion being formed centrally as a head in said disc and projecting into said discharge outlet, said explosive charge comprising a detonator one end of which is mounted in said head, and further comprising a holder for said detonator, and a junction box in which said holder is secured.

ll. A stoppering and opening device for fluid containers according to claim 1 further comprising a strainer disposed adjacent to said cover member in the path of the fluid discharged from said container to arrest any solid particles in the discharged fiuid.

12. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid container provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a cover member extending substantially across said discharge outlet, said cover member having an outer portion and an inner portion coaxially disposed relative to said outer portion and hermetically connected to said outer portion by a frangible portion, said inner portion comprise,712,ss1

ing a hollow portion having the end thereof which is adjacent to the fluid closed by a frangible portion adapted to project from the inner portion into the fluid bearing against the cover member, and an explosive charge positioned within the interior of said hollow portion adjacent to said last-mentioned frangible portion to produce upon ignition an explosive force which reacts against the fluid to sever said first-mentioned frangible portion.

13. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid con tainer provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a cover member extending substantially across such discharge outlet, said cover member having an inner portion of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the discharge outlet, said cover member further having an outer portion co-axially disposed relative to said inner portion and hermetically connected to said inner portion by a frangible annular portion, said inner portion having a central socket and a frangible hood projecting from the inner portion into the fluid bearin against the inner portion and normally closing off the interior of the socket from the fluid, and an explosive charge positioned in said socket and in the projecting part of said hood to produce upon ignition an explosive force which fractures said hood and acts against said fluid and against said inner portion to rupture said frangible portion and force said inner portion away from said outer portion and the container, thereby permitting full-bore discharge of fluid from said outlet.

14. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 13 wherein the cover member comprises a cupf shaped fitting in which said annular frangible portion comprises a reduced section separating said inner portion from said outer portion, said outer portion comprising a rim portion of the fitting, said hood projecting into the discharge outlet.

15. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid container provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a closure member extending substantially across such discharge outlet for normally closing the outlet, said closure member having an outer portion adapted to be hermetically sealed to the container and an inner portion co-axially disposed relative to said inner portion and hermetically connected to said outer portion by a frangible portion, said inner portion including a hollow portion having the end thereof which is adjacent to the fluid closed by a frangible portion adapted to project from the inner portion into the fluid bearing against the closure member, and an explosive charge positioned within the interior of said hollow portion and adjacent to said last-mentioned frangible portion to produce an explosive force upon ignition which ruptures said last-mentioned frangible portion and acts against the fluid and said inner portion to rupture said first-mentioned frangible portion and force said inner portion away from said outer portion and the container.

16. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid container provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a cup-shaped fitting extending substantially across said discharge outlet for normally closing the outlet, said fitting having an outer rim portion and an inner portion hermetically connected to said rim portion by a frangible reduced section, said inner portion having a recess tne base of which is formed by a frangible portion projecting into the discharge outlet and normally isolating the recess from the fluid bearing against the fitting, and an explosive charge positioned in said recess and adjacent to said frangible portion to produce upon ignition an explosive force which fractures said frangible portion and acts against said fluid and said inner portion to sever said frangible reduced section.

17. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 16 wherein said explosive charge comprises a detonator projecting into the discharge outlet for approximately two thirds of its lengt 18. A stoppering and opening device according to 1' claim 16 wherein said inner portion comprises a boss having said recess disposed centrally therein, a cylindrical device secured in said recess for holding said explosive charge, said cylindrical device being co-axial with said boss and of smaller diameter whereby a shoulder is formed between said boss and said cylindrical device, a

junction-box fitting adapted to be fitted to the container, and an abutment in said junction-box fitting adapted to engage said shoulder and arrest the downward movement of said boss when said first-mentioned frangible portion is severed.

21. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 19 wherein said holding device is detachably secured in said recess.

22. A stoppering and opening device according to claim 20 wherein said junction-box fitting is shaped and positioned with respect to said cup-shaped fitting to provide an unobstructed outlet for the fluid when said frangible reduced section is severed.

23. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid container provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a cover member extending substantially across such discharge outlet, said cover member having an outer portion and an inner portion radially inwardly of the outer portion and hermetically connected thereto by a frangible portion, said inner portion having a cavity whose walls, at least in part, project into said container to be surrounded by the fluid, said projecting walls being yieldable in the direction of said fluid in response to a given rise in pressure within said cavity, and an explosive charge positioned and proportioned within said cavity so as to produce upon ignition an explosive force providing said given rise in pressure within said cavity which acts through said yieldable walls against the fluid and thereafter against said inner portion to sever said frangible portion.

24. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid container according to claim 23 wherein said projecting walls comprise a cap disposed on the container side of said inner portion, and a bellows device connected to said cap and said inner portion so as to form an expansible explosion chamber.

25. A stoppering and opening device for a fluid container provided with at least one discharge outlet, comprising a cover member extending substantially across such discharge outlet, said cover member having an outer portion and a concentric inner portion hermetically connected to said outer portion by a frangible portion, an explosive charge secured to said cover member and arranged upon ignition to cause fracture of said frangible portion and to urge said inner portion away from said discharge outlet, supporting means secured to said container and positioned adjacent said discharge outlet, and means secured to said inner portion and slidably mounted in said supporting means for guiding said inner portion,

upon severance from said outer portion, to a position least likely to impede discharge of the fluid.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,822 Greve May 2, 1934 2,436,364 McDowell Feb. 17, 1948 2,478,958 Wheeler et a1 Aug. 16, 1949 2,480,967 Ritchie Sept. 6, 1949 

